New fanzone set to open in time for the Euros, says Magpies CEO
NOTTS COUNTY PLANS APPROVED
PLANS to turn a vacant factory into a Notts County FC fanzone have been approved.
The new venue is set open in time for the start of England’s European Championships campaign this summer. The tournament kicks off on June 14.
The football club has been given the green light to convert the redundant building and its yard, adjacent to the Meadow Lane stadium, into a venue with state-of-the-art lighting, sound and screens.
Called The Nest, the venue is set to “revolutionise” the matchday experience for the Magpies faithful, says club CEO Joe Palmer.
The proposals reveal the facilities, similar to Wembley’s Boxpark, will accommodate up to 1,500 supporters – three times size of the club’s current fanzone.
Mr Palmer said: “I’m delighted to say we have now been granted planning permission to proceed with this huge, and extremely exciting, project – and intend to open in time for the commencement of England’s participation in this summer’s European Championships, with the aim of providing the best destination in Nottingham for football fans to watch the eagerly-anticipated tournament unfold. We can’t wait to begin working with new partners to build a year-round schedule of events that will bring thousands of new people to Meadow Lane, while also providing a host of employment opportunities to the city.”
The Nest will provide “a safe entertainment space” where fans can eat, drink, and socialise before and after kick-off.
A container bar will be installed as fans “deserve far more in terms of food, beverage, and pre and post-match entertainment”, said Mr Palmer, who feels fans “can now look forward to having one of the very best provisions in English football from the start of the 2024-25 season”.
He added: “Supporters will be able to watch the early and late Premier League kick-offs, sample delicious street food from a top-class rotation of vendors and quickly buy refreshments from a large bar – all within an incredibly short walk from the turnstiles.”
The Nest will also host events on non-matchdays, including beer and food festivals, comedy performances, film screenings, and e-sports.
The increased capacity is designed to encourage supporters to arrive earlier and stay later on match days, alleviating traffic congestion and queuing at turnstiles.